Frances Harcus Ford entered the living world July 19, 1927. She departed March 4, 2009 and an integral part of her family was lost. Fran was an essential part of everything the Ford family stood for and did and she will be deeply missed. Her parents were W.D. and Jean Harcus of Everett and half owners of Kane and Harcus Printing, now K and H Printing. Fran graduated from Everett High School in 1946, attended Central Washington University for two years and then transferred to Western Washington University where she graduated in 1950, majoring in Home Economics (foods) and elementary education. In 1950, she began her teaching career in Bellevue in Kindergarten and Second Grade. Fran married Jim Ford in 1951 and he began a teaching and coaching career at Bellevue High School. In 1953 they started their family when Brian was born in December. In 1954 the family moved to Mt. Vernon to serve Skagit Valley College and son Douglas was born. In 1956, they moved to Oregon for one year on a leave-of –absence from SVC and daughter Jean was born in 1957. After returning to SVC, another son, Stuart, was born in 1960. Finally, son Gregory joined the family in 1962 and the happy family was complete. During this period and the great years to follow, the much-loved and dedicated Fran spent most of her time loving her family and inculcating very positive values in her children. Fran was a Mother Supreme! But Fran had time for other pursuits and she loved the outdoors….. downhill and cross country skiing, boating, camping, mountain biking, hiking, swimming, gardening, and kayaking. Fran supported good organizations dealing with literacy, mental health, peer counseling, a healthy environment, recycling (long before it became the thing to do) and League of Women Voters. She had a remarkable sense of responsibility for what was right. Fran connected well with people and was very concerned about people from all walks of life. She could not see children suffer and always came to their aid or rescue. An everlasting verity with Fran: people are more important than things; always look for the good in people. One of our sons commented recently: the world is a better place because of mom. Fran suffered from several illnesses but when the end came, she left this world with dignity and grace and loveliness and was very brave. Fran is survived by her husband Jim, and all her children except Brian –Douglas (Lisa), Jean (Bret), Stuart (Marcy), Greg (Leslie) and Grandchildren Amanda and Ian Ford, Spencer and Laura Andrich, Ryan Ford, Conor, Clara and Charlotte Ford. Also two sisters: Mary White (Paul) and Beth Shumaker (Cal). A Memorial Service, honoring Fran, will be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 11:00 AM at McIntyre Hall on the Skagit Valley College campus. A luncheon will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to SVC Foundation, Skagit Community Foundation or Skagit Hospice would be appreciated. What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. A sunset, a mountain bathed in moonlight, the ocean in calm and in storm – we see these, love their beauty, hold the vision in our hearts. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. Helen Keller